The modern city of Luxor, located in Upper Egypt, encompasses the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. Known as “the palaces” in Arabic, Luxor has earned the title of the “world’s greatest open-air museum” due to the presence of the Egyptian temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor within the city limits. Across the River Nile lies the west bank Theban Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, and adds to the city’s cultural and historical significance. Tourists from all over the world flock to Luxor annually to visit these monuments, which greatly contribute to the city’s economy. With a population of 422,407 (as of 2021) and an area of around 417 km2 (161 sq mi), Luxor is the capital of Luxor Governorate and is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.